1LT Benjamin Rives Kearfott

1LT Benjamin Rives Kearfott was born 7 Nov 1919 in Henry County, Virginia to Joseph Conrad and Catherine Rucker (Rives) Kearfott.  His father was a druggist in Martinsville.  His grandfather, Dr. Clarence Piereall Kearfott, was from Berkley County, now West Virginia and had practiced for a time in Saint Louis, Missouri. 

On 21 Apr 1936, he enlisted in the Virginia National Guard serving in the enlisted ranks until he was commissioned on 3 Feb 1941.  Before leaving for England, he was married to Mary Thebo Jennings in Lynchburg on 14 Feb 1942.  He was soon after promoted to  First Lieutenant on 21 May 1942.  Benjamin had in 1940 attended 1 year of college.  It may be that 1LT Kearfott was actually assigned to A Company 116th Infantry on 1 Jun 1944 as indicated by the morning reports.  He was likely chosen to replace another officer.  So, it was with the forlorn hope that he set sail for Dog White Beach on the morning of 6 Jun 1944 and died that same day. 

1LT Kearfott was laid to rest with many of his soldiers in the Normandy American Cemetery and a cenotaph was erected for him in Oakwood Cemetery in Martinsville, Virginia.  He was survived by parents, brother, sister and wife.  Mary Kearfott remarried and lived until 1999.  They had no children.